Bid For Freedom

Chapter 55

Jeremy coughed. "Caleb."

Caleb crawled through the grime to his friend. "Need water?"

Jeremy shook his head. "No. I need to tell ya something."

"Save your strength. We'll get outta here and then you can tell me."

Jeremy coughed again. "No. I'm not gonna make it that long. Caleb, Derek paid me to get you away from the ranch. To get in the way so you couldn't make it. Couldn't succeed."

Caleb narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"Every little thing that went wrong, that was me. I signed us both up for the war. I signed your name."

Caleb shook his head, refusing to believe his friend. "Why did you save me in Galveston?"

"I didn't want you to die. I just didn't want you to succeed, I guess."

"I'm gonna check the traps again and see if I can get a rat big enough to make a soup for us."

"Caleb listen. I'm sorry. For everything."

Jeremy broke into a fit of coughing. Caleb turned him on his side and thumped on his bony back.

"I'm sure you didn't mean it."

Jeremy's eyes fluttered closed. "I did. He threatened to kill my wife and son. Then when they died anyway," he paused, taking a deep breath. "I was so deep in my grief I couldn't see straight. Derek promised me the Colorado property if I'd keep you away. "

"So we could've trailed the cattle to Colorado and been safe."

Jeremy coughed. "Probably not, knowing Derek."

Caleb pulled the threadbare blanket they'd bartered for over both of them and wrapped his friend in his arms, hoping his warmth would be enough for them both.

"Save yourself, Caleb. I don't deserve to live."

Caleb shook his head. "You're more of a brother than a friend. Name some brothers that haven't made each other mad."

Jeremy coughed, the deep wracking cough Caleb was all-to familiar with. His friend was dying.

Caleb wrapped his arms around the skeletal frame next to him.

Jeremy took several shuddering breaths before they stopped all together.

"Jeremy! Jeremy, you can't die. Jeremy!"

Caleb pounded on his friend's chest, willing his heart to continue beating, praying his chest continued to rise and fall.

Crickets chirped nearby as Caleb wrapped his arms around his knees and sobbed to the heavens.